bio filter

[koiguy1969]

you could easily get away with a nice big plastic flower pot with a 165gal pond,and cover the top in water plants, and most people wouldnt even know its a filter. they have the teracotta looking ones , up to 50 gallons +
p.s. i've heard of packing popcorn,(or peanuts) and drinking straws cut into 1" legnths as media also. creativity is the mother of invention!!

 

[koiguy1969]

This is an excellant site, however, don't believe everything. For example, they discourage the use of 55 gallon drums, which in my opinion is far superior to what they reccommend.

now you are talking about the guy who invented the thing he's tried both, and his opinion is educated, have you tried the stock tank style? i havent, but i know it to be a tried an tested design. and i believe the barrel has its merits also, but ive never tried it so i cant make claims either way. i am using the stock tank simply for cosmetics.. its larger oval shape will look more like a small upper pool, at almost 3'x4' it will also hold a nice amount of hiacynths, to hide the plumbing and media. and give the bonus veggy filtration too. although i am building a water fall weir, for mine out of 1/2" black plastic, (the same plastic as the tank)welded at the seams, instead of just an outpipe.

 

[c2c7390]

Thanks for the tip.

I think I will use 32 gallon rubber maid trash can.

That should be plenty of filtration for a 165 gallon pond.

Dave

thats what i use on my pond which is about 400 gallons

 

[c2c7390]

Cut up soda straws can also be used.
And the round nylon pot scrubbers. The old fashioned kind. Have loads of surface area for bacteria growth.

Now that I think about, imagine the bacteria those suckers grow in your sink!
YUCK
Here's a picture.

thats true huh...thats gross...but then again thats the bad bacteria not the good kind

 

[mister2driver]

I work for a post production facility and we have a bunch of left over digital audio cassette cases. I'm thinking I can use these for my bio-filter. Any thoughts???

 

[c2c7390]

I work for a post production facility and we have a bunch of left over digital audio cassette cases. I'm thinking I can use these for my bio-filter. Any thoughts???

thats interesting...it wouldnt hurt to try

 

[mister2driver]

They are all made of plastic.

Another question, I read that the more surface the better for the beneficial bacteria to grow, right?

So why are bio balls made with "slits" (if that's what they are called) instead of just having a soild palstic ball?

Also I read you can use forks as another thing that can be used??

 

[justakillakoi]

They are all made of plastic.

Another question, I read that the more surface the better for the beneficial bacteria to grow, right?

So why are bio balls made with "slits" (if that's what they are called) instead of just having a soild palstic ball?

Also I read you can use forks as another thing that can be used??

if the coast line was strait would there be more of it? no inlets and peninsulas make it have more coast line....more surface area. inside just the same as the outside for the bacteria so if you have just the outside of a solid ball you have less surface area. they don't me surface like the top of somthing like your floor.

 

[asudavew]

you could easily get away with a nice big plastic flower pot with a 165gal pond,and cover the top in water plants, and most people wouldnt even know its a filter. they have the teracotta looking ones , up to 50 gallons +

I really like the idea of a flower pot!

 

[c2c7390]

They are all made of plastic.

Another question, I read that the more surface the better for the beneficial bacteria to grow, right?

So why are bio balls made with "slits" (if that's what they are called) instead of just having a soild palstic ball?

Also I read you can use forks as another thing that can be used??

Bio Balls are made with "slits" because it creates more surface area...instead of just the outside of the ball...now the bacteria can colonize the inside as well

 

[koden]

can try other way like this http://www.shortypen.com/koi/barrel/index2.htm

it make debris harbors the good bacteria...

 

[c2c7390]

the debris is adding to the water quality deteriorating so its like trying to paint your house when its raining...useless

 

[DrDave]

It is interesting, if it performs the task, very nice work. I would add a 2" ball dump valve at the bottom to make cleaning a breeze.

 

[c2c7390]

It is interesting, if it performs the task, very nice work. I would add a 2" ball dump valve at the bottom to make cleaning a breeze.

it is interesting...i would add a dump valve as well...does a freshwater foam as well as saltwater...im still under the impression that it doesnt

 

[DrDave]

I get foam once in a while. I met a guy that had a large pond and his waterfall produced a lot of foam. I didn't ask him if he had salt in it though.